Carton handling and sealing apparatus



'Dec. 2, 1930. A. c. SCHROEDER ET- AL CARTOE? HANDLING AND SEALING APPARATUS Filed Feb. 21, 1927 4 SheetsSheet l ,3 4 a: Z I l lgvarolz THEIIFA'ITORNEYS De'c. 2, 1930. A. c. SCHROEDER ET AL I CARTON HANDLING AND SEALING APPARATUS Filed Feb. 21, 1927 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 i 6 IN OR I /d TIFF/R ATTORNEYS 4 1 8 3 c a .7 m u\\ .lu S s t MW 55 m4 Illl 2% II E Wm An .0 T w E a A m T Own |1||| ma w w. c su cm A w T R A C Dec. 2, 1930.

a Ki Dec. 2, 1930. I v A. c. SCHROEDER ET AL 1,733,314

CARTON HANDLING AND SEALING APPARATUS Filed Feb. 21, 1927 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 THEIR ATTORNEYS operation.

Patented Dec. 2;, 1930.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 1 Anrnun c. scnnonnnn, or sYnAcusE, Ann WALLACE n'mnALL, or new Yonx, 1w. Y., nssrenons 'rosermmmn SEALING EQUIPMENT conronn'rron, or LONG IsLAn'n CITY, NEW YORK, A conronarron on NEW YORK I oAnroN'nAnnLine AND snsnmo ,arrnna'rus v\ The present invention relates to carton handling and sealing apparatus and has to do particularly 'withthe handling of filled cartons as they come from the packer in. order to thereby avoid the necessity of manually lifting and turningthem, and to 'the provision of an improved apparatus for sealing cartons whichis entirely automatic in its Fibre board or composition cartons are at the present time commonly used for the ship- 'ment of merchandise such as packaged goods,

canned goodsand the like; In packing, the,

goods to be shipped are usually placed inthe carton arranged with its bottom flaps folded f shut but not sealed. The filled carton, with I its upper flaps loosely folded into such position as they may assume without being subjected to anyclosing pressure is then passed along to the sealing apparatus where a suitable coating of adhesive is applied to its flaps after which the flaps are closed and are held in closed position until the adhesive has set. The carton is then're'ady for shipment.

The filled unsealed cartons are commonly transferred from the place at which they are i packed to the sealing apparatus by means of atraveling belt or similar type of conveyer. If the gumming of the carton flaps is to be accomplished manually, the operator unfolds the outer top flaps,'applies adhesive to their 'nndersidesand then closes the gummed flaps into-such position as they are intended to occupy in the sealed carton. He then inverts the filled carton in order to get access to the flaps at the other side-of the carton. for the purpose of gumming and sealing them. The

filled cartons are usually heavy, and con- 'siderable manual efiort' is therefore required on the partof the operator in' thus continually turning over the cartons during the flap sealing operation. In addition to this, care must be exercised in order to avoid disturbing the contents of the carton; The necessity of thus manually inverting each carton involves a large proportion ofthe total time and energy required .in the .gumming' and sealing; of the flaps. Even where'certain.

types of sealing machines are employed, manual turning'over the carton is neces- -of the flaps, and the Application filed l'ebluary 21, 1 927. Serial No. 169,889.

sary in order, that the flaps may be proper}? Ext-ended into positionffor receiving the a esive.

It is an object of this invention to provide"- an apparatus for receiving the filled unsealed cartons as they come from the packing tables manually or in automatic sealing apparatus. I

In the case of manual sealing of the cartons,

. the present apparatus is utilizedto invert the carton after its top flaps have been sealed so that the other flaps are'accessible to the operator for the purpose of applying the adhe sive to them and'sealing them. Where, in certain cases the sealing is accomplished by mechanical means, the carton turning mechanism of the present apparatus serves as a means of facilitating the unfolding of the carton flaps to thus put them into position for receiving adhesive from the adhesive a plying. rolls of the sealing apparatus. e operator extends the outer to flaps of the carton before introduction of t e carton into the device. Thus after the cartonis inverted, its bottom flaps are extended, and the operator may extend its'then upper flaps so that the carton may be passed, along with its flaps extended into-the machine. Where, in certain other cases the entire manipulation application of adhesive thereto is accomplishe y mechanical means which is entirely automatic'in its operation,

the improved turning mechanism of the invention serves to automatically .invert'the carton between the sealing of the top and bottom flaps thereof.

It is also an objectof this invention, ,to pro? vide an apparatus of the class described which is of simple and inexpensive constructon and which-occupies a. amountof space. In ,fact,.the inversion of thejcars ;ton is accomplished in a space whichiis entirely comparable-withthe length of the c arton itself. Thisgfeat-um of. theapparatusf renders'it particularly e'fiective in its adap-' V tation to the limited space requirements of the average carton packing installation.

The apparatus may be placed at exactly'the I desired point without necessity of sacrificing an unduly large amount of floor space for the purpose. A further advantage is that the present apparatus may be placed near the point where the sealed cartons are taken up for shipment, and,this fact gives' rise to the advantage that no particular care need be exercised in the transfer of cartons from the'packing tables to the point of shipment for they are not sealed until they reach the latter point.

It is a further object of the invention to provide an apparatus for receiving cartons which are supplied to it in haphazard fashion and discharging the cartons one by one in definite timed relation. The intervals at which the cartons are discharged may be regulated as desired. This feature is of especial value in cases Where cartons are supplied to the apparatus from several packing tables and it is desired to pass out the packed cartons in definitely spaced relation. The receiving of the cartons and discharging of them in timed relation is accomplished in the present apparatus without necessity of any manual attention.

It is a still further object of this invention to provide an apparatus which performs the operation ofinverting the'carton, discharging the inverted carton and receiving a fresh carton in a short time interval so that a large number of cartons may pass through the apparatus in a specified length of time.

It is a further important object of the present invention to associate the carton turning or inverting mechanism with suitable mechanism for opening, gumming, and closing the flaps in such manner as to provide a. machine for receiving filled cartons with their flaps closed but unsealed and discharging them in sealed condition, the operation of this apparatus being entirely automatic.

The invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings and its scope is set forth in the appended claims. In these drawings,

Fig. 1 is a transverse sectional view showing the carton turning apparatus embodying the invention;

- .Fig. 2 is an end view showing the apparatus of Fig. 1 as viewed from the entrance end? Fig. 3 is a plan view of the apparatus shown in Figs. 1 and 2;

Fig. 4is a side elevation of the complete carton sealing apparatus of our invention which is wholly automatic in its operation;

Fig. 5 is a plan view of the apparatus of Fig.4'

Fig. 6 is a transverse section taken on line Fig. 7 isan enlarged ,vertical section of the central part of the machine taken on line 7-7' of Figs. 5 and 6;

Referring to the drawings, 1 indicates the frame or'supporting structure of the carton handling or turning apparatus. Mounted in this frame structure 1 are stationary shafts or trunnions 2'which serve to carr the movable element of the apparatus. his movable element consists of a frame structure or element 3 carrying upper and lower roller beds 5 and 4. The entire frame 3 together with its roller beds is, through the medium of the trunnions 2, free to rotate with respect to the main frame 1. The lower portions of the trunnions 2 are cut away as shown in Figs. 1, 2, 4 and 6 for a purpose which will hereafter appear. p

The carton handling apparatus of the present invention is here shown employed in conjunction with apparatus for gumming and sealing the carton flaps. The initial end of this gumming and sealing apparatus is indicated at 6, and may be an apparatus of the type disclosed in the copending ap plication of Kimball, Rideout and McFaull, Serial N o. 7 4:7 ,186, now Patent No. 1,615,631, assigned to the present assignee, which apparatus is arranged to receive a filled carton with its outer top and bottom flaps extended, apply adhesive to the extended flaps and then close the gummed flaps into the position which they are to assume in the sealed carton. The present carton handling apparatus may also be employed to advantage when used in connection with other types of apparatus or when used alone. A conveyer 7 is here shown at the initial end of the carton handling apparatusto serve the purpose of conveyin to the apparatus the cartons as they come rom thepacking tables or the like. f

I The cartons are passed along the conveyor 7 7 in indiscriminate fashion until one of the cartons is introduced into the rotatable element 3 into the position indicated at 8. Introduction of thecarton into the position 8 is accomplished by reason of the pressure of the other cartons passing alon the conve er 7, the pressure being secured y the drivlng movement of thebelt on the conveyor 7 or, if feasible, by means of a gravity chute. The location of the carton 8 in the rotatable element 3 is determined by means of a stop or rod 9 which contacts withthe frame members of the element 3 at its discharge end, as shown in Fig. 1, and thus serves to retain the carton in a predetermined position. Actuation of the rotatable element' 3 is secured through an appropriate sprocket'and chain arrangement which consists of a main sprocket .wheel 10 concentric with the trunnions 2 and secured tothe frame 3, so that rotation of the sprocket 10 will produce bodi- 1y rotation of the element 3 together with the carton 8 contained in the element. Sprocket 10 is actuated bymeans of a chain 11 which passes overthe sprocket and over idler sprockets 12 as well as i a driving sprocket 13 carried by the main driving shaft 1 1 suitably mounted for rotation in the main frame structure 1. In case the present apparatus is employed 'in conjunction with other carton handling apparatus, the driving shaft 1e will'be connected up to operate synchronously with such cooperatmgap'paratus. If the present apparatus is not employed in conjunction with other special apparatus, the driving shaft 14' is driven in any desired manner and may be actuated to effect rotation of the element 3 at desired intervals.

The movable element 3 is preferably r0;- tated in a clockwise direction as indicated by the arrow in Fig. 1. Upon the beginning of the rotation of the element the cartons 15 resting on the conveyer 7 adjacent the carton 8, which has alreadybeen introduced into the rotatable element 3, are pushed back into the position indicated in Fig. 1 in case 3 they have followed the carton 8 forward as it entered the rotatable-element. During 'the rotation of the element 3 the cart-on 15 isheld back in the position shown by.reason of the spacin' members 16 provided on the element.

When the element 3" has beenrotated through 180, the carton 8 has been bodily inverted and'the stop rod 9 thenlies at the initial end ofthe apparatus-instead of at the discharge end. The path of rod 9' during the rotation of the element 3 is indiated at 17. Attached to the rod 9 at each'end is a weight 18 connected to the rod by means of a suitable chain 19 operating over a sprocket 20, so that during the movement of the rod 9 from the position shown in Fig. 1 along the path 17 to the position indicated in dotted lines at 21 theweight 18 is elevated into theposition indicated at 22.= Inasmuch as the lower portions of the trunnions 2 arecut away, the chains 19 extend in "straight lines from the dotted position 21 over the tops-of sprockets 20 as indicated by the dot .and

.dash line in Fig. 1. The rod '9 is fnovable' longitudinally of the rotatable element. 3 along guide-ways, 23, sprocket 10 being split to permit passage of therod. vWhen, there .fore, the element 3 has rotated through 189 and the carton 15 on the conveyer 7 is pernnt- I tedto move into contact with the carton 8,

J the pressure'of the incoming cartons together with the pull of the weight 18-on the rod 9 .maghbe repeated.

serves to positively discharge the'carton 8 from the element 3 and permit entry of the carton 15. The downwa d movement of the weight 18 continues until rod 9 reaches the end of the apparatus as shown in Fig.' 1,

whereupon the carton 15 will he positioned within the rotatable element 3 exactly as was the carton 8 so that the cycleof operation e apparatusjust described asaw invert each carton which it reoeivesfronr the.

'24 when the carton is in the element 3. Upon ing been turned so as to conveyer- '7. This is of particular advantage in the handlinglof filled cartons preparatory to sealing. W

en the turning apparatus. isused in conjunction with the sealing ma.- chine above referred to and indicated at 6, in Fig. 1, the operator extends the outer top flaps ofthe carton just before the carton is introduced into the rotatable element 3 so that the.flaps are extended as indicated at actuation of the element 3 the carton is in-' folds the then top flaps'of the carton and permits the carton to pass along into the sealing machine 6 with both its top and bottom flaps extended in position to receive the adhesive. .In this fashion, the operator is not required to manually invert or otherwise handle the carton and the result is that a material increase in the output of each operatoris effected.

It will be noted that with the rotatable element 3 operated in definitely timed rela-;

tion, tlfe turning mechanism serves as a means for receiving cartons su plied to it in disorderly fashion and disc arging the cartons at definitely spaced intervals. This timing of the discharged cartons is'accom plished in'an apparatus which is entirelycomparable with the entire length of the. carton." In fact, the space required by the apparatus is but a few inches more' than the actual length of the carton.

Up to this point we have the construction of the carton handling or turning mechanism illustrated in Figs. 1 to 3 of the drawings. -We will now describe 4 v the construction and operation of the complete automatic'carton sea-ling apparatus of V i our'invention which is illustrated in Figs. 4 to 7 inclusive. Briefly, this apparatus comprises feeding mechanism for admitting or delivering the cartons to the sealing apparatus, means for manipulating the. flaps at the top of the carton to seal the same, turning mechanism forinverting the .carton, and

means for manipulating the bottom flaps ofthe carton to seal the same these flaps hav-.

be 'at'the top of the carton. w

The cartons which are received from the feeding mechanism are carried forward through the two flap manipulating mechanisms by suitable carton advancing means;

- such as a feed'chaim'and the cartonsadvance verted and the extended flaps then are at the I bottom of the carton. Upon issuance of the carton from the element 3 the operator un discussed only.

continuously from the time they are fed into the machine until the time they are discharged in completely sealed condition, except for the time when they are in the turning mechanism. The feeding mechanism is operatively connected with the mechanism of the sealing apparatus so as to admit the cartons one at a time in timed relation to the,

operation of the sealing apparatus. The two carton advancing devices are driven synchronously and means are provided for automatically controlling the operation of the carton inverting mechanism 1n timed relation to these means, so that the cartons will be fed to and discharged from the turning mechanism at the proper time.

Referring now to Figs. 4 and 5 of the accompanying drawings, the feeding mechanism is indicated generally at 24, the sealing mechanism for sealing the top flaps of the carton at 25, the turning mechanism at 26, and the mechanism for sealing the bottom flaps of the carton after the carton has been turned upside down at 27.

The cartons to be sealed are brought up to the machine upon a suitable conveyer such as a belt or roller table not shown) and move from this table onto t e feeding mechanism 24 which comprises a tilting table 28 composed of a section of roller table pivoted at its front end at 29. Tilting table 28 is normally in an inclined position as shown in Fig. 4 and the foremost carton A therefore advances against a stop which consists of a withdrawable trigger 30. The tilting table is adapted to be tipped about its pivot 29 in the direction of the arrow to bring its axis approximately to the position shown by the.

dotted line. This tilting is effected by a lever 31 pivoted at 32 and actuated by a cam 33 on shaft 34 of the sealing apparatus. Simultaneously with the tipping of table 28, trigger 30 is withdrawn below the surface of the table by means of linkage indicated at 35, and this allows the carton A to go forward under the influence of gravity onto the roller table 36 of sealing mechanism 25, the'forward end of this roller table being referably inclined.

Upon reaching the rol er table 36, one of a plurality of driving bars 87, which are carried in spaced relation b a pair of drive chains 38, comes-up behin the carton and pushesit along the surface of the roller table. One of these bars is shown in contact with the rear of the carton which has now advanced to position B.

The drive chains 38 are carried one at each side of the machine upon suitable sprockets 39 on shaft 34 at the entrance end of the apparatus, and on similar sprockets mounted on shaft'41- at the opposite end of the sealing mechanism 25. These chains are positively driven-in the direction of the arrows in amannerto be described later on.

As. the carton is advanced along roller table be engaged by the unfol ers 43. These unfolders comprise a pair of warped metal surfaces, one located on each side of the machine,

(see Figs. 4 and 5) which unfold the flaps outwardly about their hinges to the horizontal position.

After being thus unfolded the flaps pass beneath gumming rolls which apply suitable adhesive to the upper surfaces of the unfolded flaps, this adhesive being received onto the surfaces of the rollers 44 from an adhesive receptacle 45. Adhesive rollers 44 are positively driven by means of chains 46 and 47 from shaft 34. The adhesive receptacles 45 are pivotally mounted on the frame of the sealing mechanism as indicated at 48, and adhesive rollers 44 are carried upon the pivoted adhesive rceptacles so that the adhesive rollers can be lifted momentarily, by means of a cam (not shown) so' as to leave spaces at the centers of the flaps uncoated with adhesive.

After the carton advances to the right beyond the adhesive rollers 44, the outer top flaps are again folded inwardly to their original position in contact with the inner top flaps by means of refolders 49. These refolders are somewhat similar to the unfolders 43, but are shaped to return the flaps substantially to the horizontal position where they are received beneath a presser bar 50 WlllChiS resiliently mounted upon the frame of the machine and presses the margins'of the two outer flaps firmly against the inner flaps and holds them in this close contact while the carton is moved forward into the turning mechanism 26. In position C the carton has been pushed into the turning mechanism by means of the bar 37, and is ready to be inverted.

The inverting or' turning mechanism 26 is increased length of travel assists in ejecting the carton onto roller table 51 of the bottom flap sealing mechanism 27. .In order to pro- ;vide for this-increased travel of rod 9a the vertical members 52 have beensevered between the horizontal members 53 and members 53 are held together at their ends by members 54. V

' ,Before taking up-t-he description of the 'drt ri'ng and synchronizing mechanism, we

willcomplete the operations upon the carton after leaving theturning mechanism, since this can be very briefly described. After the carton has been inverted it advances .along the roller table 51 of the bottom flap sealing mechanism 27 under the pressure exerted by one of a plurality of driving bars 55 similar msas a todriving bars 37. Driving bars 55 are 1 mounted upon endless chains which are carried upon sprockets on shafts 57 and'58 respectively. v I

- In passing along roller table 51 the bottom flaps of the carton which remain unsealed and which have been turned to the upper position, are acted upoii in a manner exactly similar to thatfdescribed in connection with the top flap sealing mechanism 25.

p The outer bottom fiapsare unfolded by an unfolding head 42a, and unfolders 43a.

Then adhesive is applied by adhesive rollers 44a, and immediately afterwards the flaps are reclose'd by 'the refolders 49a, and theed and closed outer flaps are pressed against the inner flaps by the presser bar 50a.

The top flaps which were sealedby mechanism are held firmly in closed position by the sections of rollers in-the turnin mechanisnp, and by the pressure caus by the weight'of the contents of the carton as the carton moves'along rollertable 51in theincation of sealing pressure. 4 have just been sealed by the sealing mecha ,order to allow the adhesive to set.'- Approverted position. The adhesive appliedtothe top flaps is therefore partially set so that,

there is very: little danger of these flaps becoming unsealed even without further apph- The flaps that nism 27, however, may need to be heldin the closed position for a short period of t me 1n priate mechanism'for providing this sealing pressure may be provided to receive the cartons from the right handor discharge end of the apparatus shown in Fi 4., The appara tus shown in application erial No.-151,663,

' filed November 30, 1926, in the names of Wallace D. Kimball and Arthur E. Rideout, may be used for this purpose,"if desired, and member 59 is a switch member for. automatically actuating the driving motor of such apparatus by contact withtlie upper surfaces of. the carton which is aboutto be discharged from the sealing mechanism. I p v v Returning now to the means for synchronizing the drive of turning mechanism 26 and sealing mechanisms 25 and 27, and re-,

ferringparticularly to Figs. 4, 6' and 7 an electric' motor 60 is operatively connected wlth main drive shaft 61 to drive this shaft continuouslyiin the same direction at uniform speed at all timesduring whichthe seal ng apparatusis operating. Carton advancing chain 38 of the sealing mechanism 251s drlven from shaft 61 by a chain 62 which passes over a sprocket 63 on the -main shaft, and 'a sprocket 64 on shaft 41. Carton advancing chain 56 ofthesealingmechanism 27 is ,similarly driven by means of a chain 65 passing over sprocket 66 on main shaft 61, and sprocket 67 on shaft 57 Chains 38 and 56 are thereforemechanically geared together and are drivensimultaneously from the same main driving shaft, 61, and these chains are there-' W teraw fore always in motion whenever energy is supplied to driving motor 60.

The. turning mechanism 26 is actuated by chain 11a passing over sprockets 13a and 10a,

sprocket 10a having twice as many teeth as sprocket 13a, so 7 that one, revolution of sprocket 13a rotates the turning mechanism vthrough an angle of180 only. Sprocket 13a .is not fixed torotate with shaft 61 as are clutch is thrown into gear and sproc et 13a is rotated through one revolution only. Moreover, the driving and driven clutch members positively engage one another by a jaw action, the engagement taking place always at the sameangular position of shaft 61, and

lever 69 is moved to the right from the position shown in Fi 7 the the members automatically'becoming disengaged at the same angular position of said shaft. Hence, after the rotation of sprocket- -13a has been initiated, its rotation always continues for a complete revolution of sprocket 13a and causes the rotation of sprocket 13a to ceaseat' a definite fixed angular position. The construction of this type of one-revolution clutch is well known and it has not been believed necessary to' illustrate its details. Because of the 2:1 gear ratio between sprockets 13a and 10a, the carton turning frame structure or element 3a is rotated through exactly an angle of 180, and the roller beds 4a and 5a thereof always arein the horizontal position in alignment with theroller beds, 38 and 51 of the sealing mechanism when the turning movement 'is completed.

It is important that the actuationof the carton turning element 3a be in relation to the delivery of the carton into turning mechanism'by the carton advancing chain 38. The rotation of the turning element does not commence until' after the carton has been placed within the turning element, for otherwise the carton would be damaged, and, moreover, this turning movement should commence' promptly upon the reception of the car-j For this ton within the turning element. reason the sprockets. 40 of'the sealing mechanism 25 are placed as clbse aspossible to the I receiving end of turning mechanism 26, and

still allow the rotationof this mechanism -without its strikingany part of the sealing mechanism. The operation of. the apparatus when'the carton is at this point in its path through the machine i's's'een in'Fig. 4,

as well asin 7. Fig. 7 however, illusnism has operated. In Fig. 7 the carton which is shown in full lines within the turning element 3a has been inverted and its inverted position is indicated by the letter D. The dotted position 37a of one of the drive bars 37, however, shows the bar just passing a corner of the carton as it pushed the carton into the turning element 3a before the turning over movement commenced. Since the turning over mechanism is symmetrical, the position of the carton indicated at D and that indicated at C are identical except for the fact that the carton has been inverted, and in one case the stop or rod 9a is in front of the carton and in the other case, behind it. Rod 37 inthe position indicated at 37a has just pushed the carton into the turning element where it is entirely supported between the roller beds 4a and 5a of the turning element 3a.

After rod 37 passes the lower corner of the carton it engages the sloping surface of a plunger head which normally is in the path of the bars 37 as they travel around the periphery of sprockets 10. Plunger head 70 is slidably mounted as illustrated in Fig. 7 and urged out into the path of the bars 37 by means of a spring 71. The inward move,- ment of the plunger head which is caused by the bar 37 causes a slight rocking of a lever 72 pivoted on the frame of the apparatus at 7 3, the motion of which is transmitted to operating lever 69 of the one-revolution clutch by link 7 4. This displacement of operating lever 69 thereby starts the sprocket 13a on its travel through one revolution, which causes the turning of the element 3a through 180, thus turning the carton upside down. The stopping of the turning element 3a is caused by the structure of the one-revolution clutch as above described.

Some time during the turnover movement, the carton usually slides forward between the roller beds 4a and 5a against the stop or rod 9a shown in dotted position at the right of Fig. 7. The rotation of the turnover element 3a, however, carries the rod 9a in a path similar to that indicated by the dotted line 17 in Fig. 1, and when the turning over move-- ment has been completed the rod 9a is behind the carton in the full line position shown at the left of Fig. 7. The lower portions of the trunnions 2 being removed, the chains by which the weights 18a are attached to the rod 9a pass in straight lines from the full line position of rod 9a through the center of rotation of the turning mechanism 26 and over the tops of the sprockets 20. This movement of the rod 9a has elevated weights 18a from the dotted position of Fig. 7 to the full line position, and as the end of the turnover movement is completed, weights 18a descend,

' causing rod 9a to move the carton out of the turning element 3a and onto the roller table The dotted position of rod 9a'in Fig.7 illustrates the advance of the carton from position D to position E where it is shown in dotted lines supported entirely upon roller table 51.

Since the drive chains 38 and 56 are both driven from the common shaft 61, and since the one-revolution clutch 68 always initiates the turnover movement at a definite angular position of shaft 61, and completes this movement at another-angular position of the same shaft, the position of the drive bars 55 on chain 56 may be easily chosen so as to cause one of these bars to advance to the dotted position 7 5 (Fig. 7) behind the carton at position E as soon as the carton has been advanced to this position by means of the rod 9a.

It will be understood from the foregoing that the carton feeding mechanism 24, the flap manipulating or sealing mechanism 25, the carton turning or inverting mechanism 26, and the flap manipulating or sealing mechanism 27, are all appropriately timed together to cooperate with one another as a single apparatus which automatically receives the cartons successively-one at a time from the supply table, and delivers the cartons in completely sealed condition at the 9 right hand end of the apparatus. In this machine the flaps are manipulated while the cartons advance along a supporting table, and the cartons are inverted by turning them about substantially their own axes so that space is economized, and at the same time the flaps are properly secured together.

We claim: v

1. Carton handling apparatus of the class described comprising a conveyer having a plurality of cartons thereon, a receiving element for receiving cartons successively discharged from said conveyer, means for :11: resting the movement of the received carton in said receiving element, means for actuating said receiving element at predetermined timed intervals to invert the carton therein and means for actuating said arresting means to effect discharge of the inverted carton from said element.

2. Carton handling apparatus of the class described comprising a carton receiving element, a stop for engaging the forward end of a carton entering said element and arresting the movement thereof, means for bodily inverting said carton receiving element and its contained carton,'whereby said stop is placed at the rear of said carton, and means actuated simultaneously with the inverting of said receiving element for effecting discharge of the carton.

3. Carton handling apparatus of the class described comprising an element for receiving a carton, a stop for engaging the forward end of the carton and arresting the movement thereof within said receiving element, means for inverting said carton receiving element together with the carton contained therein, whereby said stop will be at the rear of said carton, and means actuated by the inverting movementof said element for moving said stop lengthwise of said receiving element to thereby effect discharge of the carton. a

4. Carton handling apparatus of the class described comprising an element for receiving a carton, a stop member for engaging the forward end of the carton and arresting guideways to effect discharge of the carton from said element.

5. Carton handling apparatusof the class described comprising a conveyer for supplying cartons tothe said apparatus, an element for successively receiving the said cartons, means for effecting periodical bodily rotation of said carton receiving element to there-' by invert the 'cartoncontained therein, means for restraining forward movement of succeed-' ing cartons onto said conveyer during said. rotative movement, and means for discharging thecarton from said receiving element and permitting entry of a fresh carton.

6. Carton handling apparatus of the class described comprising a conveyer for supplying cartons to the said apparatus, an element for successively receiving cartons from said conveyer, abar constituting a stop for'ar resting the movement of the carton entering said receiving element, limiting means for V determining the extent of movement of said bar, guideways for permitting movement of said bar lengthwise of said cartonreceiving.

element, means for periodically effecting bodily inversion of saidreceiving element, a' weight elevated by said inversion, and con-v nections between "said eight and said bar whereby said weight escends. by gravity tomove said stop lengthwise of said receiving element to its limitin'gposition and thereby discharge the carton contained in said element and permit entry of a fresh carton into the position formally occupied by said dis-' charged carton.

7 A machine for sealing cartonscompris ing a table for receiving a carton resting on its bottom flaps with its bottom fla s closed but unsealed, means for advancing t e carton along said table, means for sealing the top flaps thereof, while the carton is in-motion,-

means for inverting'the carton, and means for sealing the bottom carton flaps while the carton is in the inverted position.

8. A machine-for sealing cartonscomprising a table for receiving a carton resting on its bottom flaps with its bottom flaps closed but unsealed, means for advancing the carton along said table, means for sealing the top flaps thereof while the carton is in motion, 7

means for inverting the carton, a second table for receiving the carton from sald inverting means, means for advancing the carton along said second table, and means for sealing the bottom flaps of the carton as the carton advances along said second table.

9.- In a machine for sealin filled cartons,

the combination of a pair 0 sealing tables, each having means associated therewithfor 5 sealing a portion of the carton flaps as the carton passes thereover, carton advancing means for each table for advancing the cartons successively over said tables, and means for transferring the cartons from one table tothe other including means for inverting I the carton during said transfer.

10. In a machine for sealing filled cartons, the combination of a pair of sealing tables,

each having meansassociated therewith {for sealing a portion of the carton flaps as the carton passes thereover," said sealing means;

for the, two tables being disposed substantially in the same plane, carton advancing means for each table for advancing'the cartons successively over said tables, and means for transferring the cartons from one table to the other'including means for inverting the carton during said transfer.

11. 'In a machine for sealing filled cartons, 5

the combination of a pair of sealing tables, each having means associated therewith forv sealing a portion of the carton flaps as the, carton passes thereover, carton advancing means for each table for advancing the car- 11-0 -tons successively over said tables, means for transferring the cartons from one table to the other including means for-inverting the carton during said transfer, and means for actuating said carton advancing means, and 116 said transferring means intimed relation.

In a maczine for sealing filled cartons, j

having their fl ps closed-but unsealed,'the' combination of a pair of sealing tables each having-flap manipulating devices associated 12o therewith for opening the outer carton flaps.

at the upper face of the carton, applying adhesive thereto, and closing the sameagainst V the inner carton flaps, carton advancing means for each table for advancing the car- I tons" successivelyv over said tables, and carton inverting mechanism disposed between said tables for turning the carton to present an unsealed carton face tothe action of the flap manipulating devices of the second table.

tures.

13. Carton inverting apparatus of the class described comprising a framework,a pair of carton-supporting surfaces facing inwardly toward one another disposed near the top and bottom of the framework, the framework having openings at opposite sides for admitting a carton to and discharging it from said earton-su porting surfaces, a guideway extending mid way across each end of said framework, a rod mounted in said guideways to serve as a stop for a carton entering the apparatus, stationary bearings projecting into supporting engagement centrally with the ends of the framework to permit it to rotate bodily to invert the carton therein, the lower portion of'each of said bearings being cut away to allow said rod to slide in said guideways to eject the inverted carton from the apparatus.

14. A machine for inverting cartons comprising a framework having a bearing at each end thereof for rotatably supporting the same and permitting said framework to. ro tate bodily, said framework carrying a pair of carton supporting surfaces facing toward one another disposed near the top and bottom of the framework, the sides of said surfaces being spaced from the ends of the framework so as to provide space for receiving the extended flaps of the carton, the portions of the framework extending beyond the sides of said carton supporting surfaces serving to protect said extended flaps.

15. Carton handling apparatus of the class described comprising a pair of tables for conveying cartons horizontally, a carton inverting element between the adjacent ends of said tables, bearings for supporting said inverting element to permit vertical rotation there of, said element being provided with two carton supporting surfaces arranged equi-distant from the axes of said bearings, and means for rotating'said element, said carton supporting surfaces being thereby brought successively to the same elevation as said tables.

In testimony whereof We afiix our signa- ARTHUR ,C. SCHROEDER. WALLACE D. KIMBALL. 

